Colby Community Involvement Trip (C2IT)

Colby Community Involvement Trips (C2IT) are a new part of Colby College's First Year Orientation Program.  Throughout Orientation, we are stressing the concept of healthy communities – what it means to be an active member of a healthy community and the rights and responsibilities that accompany the privilege. C2IT is designed to show students how deep engagement in a community based concern or issue enriches the experiences of all residents.

We recognize that many students choose to come to Maine or stay here to attend college, with good reason.  Our state is a wonderful place with natural beauty, hardworking people and a rich history.  C2IT gives First-Years Students the opportunity to learn about a particular topic important to Maine, and to meet people who are actively engaged in and care about those issues. 

Our guiding concept for the day is "Meet, Learn, & Do".  On Thursday, September 3, 2009, students will travel throughout the state, be met by a host – someone who is knowledgeable about and invested in a particular concern, meet with others who share that interest, learn about the topic, and then, where possible, do some relevant hands-on work.

We hope that students will come away from C2IT with an understanding of how community is broadened and strengthened by the work of engaged citizens and the skills these people use while addressing their work.  We feel certain our students will benefit from their hosts' stories and hope they can be helpful as the Class of 2013 begins to shape its own campus community.